To make matters more confusing, the instrument is often referred to by its French name, the cor anglais, all for obscure reasons. About one-and-a-half times the size of the oboe, the English horn is immediately recognised by its pronounced, pear-shaped bell. The sound is similar to, if slightly less honky than, the oboe, thickening nicely in the lower register. It is both a mellow melody instrument and a handy softener for the wind section's overall texture.

Fact File

Did you know?

The earliest known orchestral part specifically for the instrument is in Niccolò Jommellis opera Ezio written around 1749.